The 2017 grand finalists were at risk of missing the finals just a month ago. However, after a last-gasp victory over Bowral in round 15, the side has now won three-straight and re-emerged as a genuine title threat. 

Despite the new-found confidence, Shamrocks can still leapfrog the side on the ladder with a Vikings loss and a win over Tech next weekend and Barrett plans to spend the next week ensuring his side is fully focused on their round 18 clash with Campbelltown. 

“For the big games, we’ll be up for it,” Barrett said. “The boys are not dwelling on last year, but last year kind of put a bit of a dint on us.

“We just need to make sure that we focus on Campbelltown next week, because they’ll definitely be up for it. They’ll come down the hill and try to roll us.”

Vikings have experienced mixed results against the competition’s top teams, with two heavy defeats to Avondale and a 50-point drubbing to University. However, the side has picked up wins over University and Bowral in the back half of the season and Barrett feels those wins will help the team should they secure a finals berth. 

“That’s right, it does [give the team a confidence boost], and beating University late last year has really put us in good stead, and Bowral are the form team at the moment. To beat those guys here, when the’ve played some really good football, it puffs our chests out a bit.”

While not yet a finals team, the Tahs have pushed a number of the competition’s top sides this year and Saturday was no different at a blustery Vikings Rugby Ground. 

The two teams were evenly matched at half-time, with Vikings holding a 12-5 lead thanks to a late try.

The second half was largely played inside the Tahs own 22, with Tech unable to clear the ball from their own half.

While losing the territorial battle, the Tahs aimed up defensively, holding firm until Paul Henshaw broke through with just under 20 minutes remaining. 

Vikings proceeded to close out the match, snuffing out any hopes of a Tahs comeback with tries to Henshaw and Tommy Sawden. 

“Tech definitely came to play,” Barrett said. “They didn’t allow us to play our structure. They were good defensively, their forward pack really stuck it to us, which is something we had to challenge ourselves with in the second half.

“Unfortunately we were probably looking forward to a couple of weeks time, but, knowing we had to win today was the onus. We just had to grind out a win and then keep on winning, because obviously Shamrocks are nipping on our heels.”

In the competition’s other matches, Shamrocks maintained their pressure on Vikings with a 59-14 win over Kiama and Avondale prevailed over Shoalhaven 43-22. Bowral triumphed over Camden 43-0 and University defeated Campbelltown 52-5 to set up a last-round showdown for second position.